The archaic smile refers to the slight smile seen on the faces of many sculptures from the Archaic period in ancient Greece. It was believed to represent the idealized state of being alive rather than showing genuine emotion.
Related terms
Archaic Period: This refers to the early phase of ancient Greek art (around 600 BCE) characterized by stylized figures and rigid poses.
Idealization: Idealization means representing something in its perfect or most desirable form, often found in art when portraying human figures.